Nothing like spending New Year’s Eve on a wrestling mat.
That was the case for the Barton wrestlers as the Cougars traveled to Nebraska for the Viking-Warrior Open in Freemont on the campus of Midland University.
The Cougars not only were able to break some rust off after the layoff over the semester break but in the process had a good tune-up for a key meet this weekend.
Barton will take part in the NJCAA National Duals this weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind. The event will begin busy January as Barton prepares for the post season just a little more than one month away.
Barton had one wrestler reach the semifinals before losing in Isaac Bailey at 141. Bailey lost in the semifinals the also dropped his consolation semifinal match to end his day.
Six more Cougar wrestlers made it to the quarterfinals. Colin Kruger (157), Lucas McMichael (165), Kendall Biddle (165), Devon Baker (184), Ethan Dean (197) and Brix Brickey (285) all advanced to the quarterfinals of the championship bracket.
January will be a busy month of duals for the Cougars as they compete in four dual meets along with the prestigious Kansas Cup.

Viking-Warrior Open Midland University
133 - Caysen Smith
Round 1 - JD Rader (Nebraska-Kearney) won by tech fall over Smith (19-4)
Cons Round 1 - Smith received a bye
Cons Round 2 - Brandon Matlock (Grandview) won by fall over Smith (1:47)
141 - Isaac Bailey
Round 1 - Bailey received a bye
Quarterfinal - Bailey won by fall over Trevor Foster (Midland) (0:43)
Semifinal - Jeff Bizzle (Nebraska-Kearney) won by tech fall over Bailey (18-0)
Cons Semi - Michael Robles (Midland University) won by fall over Bailey (2:48)
157 - Colin Koger
Round 1 - Koger won by fall over Ronnie Nelson (Midland) (1:56)
Quarterfinal - Kyle Fowler (Morningside) won by major decision over Koger (14-2)
Cons Round 2 - Christian Rivas (Barton) won by tech fall over Koger (17-1)
157 - Christian Rivas
Round 1 - Grant Williams (Oklahoma City) won by fall over Rivas (1:39)
Cons Round 1 - Rivas received a bye)
Cons Round 2 - Rivas won by tech fall over Colin Koger (Barton) (17-1)
Cons Round 3 - Seth Harrington (Nebraska-Kearney) won by tech fall over Rivas (19-4)
165 - Lucas McMichael
Round 1 - McMichael received a bye
Quarterfinal - Nickalas Babcock (Nebraska-Kearney) won by fall over McMichael (1:08)
Cons Round 2 - Cooper Self (Midland University) won by fall over McMichael (4:29)
165 - Kendall Biddle
Round 1 - Biddle won by decision over Cooper Self (Midland) (6-4)
Quarterfinal - Bruce Lemon (Augustana) won by fall over Biddle (3:24)
Cons Round 2 - Isaiah Smith (Oklahoma City) won by decision over Biddle (11-7)
174 - David Kelly
Round 1 - Isaac Luellen (Nebraska-Kearney) won by fall over Kelly (2:53)
Cons Round 1 - Kelly received a bye
Cons Round 2 - Kelly won by fall over David Moran (Midland) (3:58)
Cons Round 3 - Kenan Jackson (Grandview) won by decision over Kelly (14-9)
184 - Victor Monarrez
Round 1 - Adam Ball (Midland) won by fall over Monarrez (5:38)
Cons Round 1 - Monarrez received a bye
Cons Round 2 - Gage Hartline (Midland) won by major decision over Monarrez (9-1)
184 - Devon Baker
Round 1 - Baker received a bye
Quarterfinal - Ethan Leighton (Grandview) won by fall over Baker (4:09)
Cons Round 2 - Baker received a bye
Cons Round 3 - Gage Hartline (Midland) won by decision over Baker (7-6)
197 - Ethan Dean
Round 1 - Dean won by decision over Tristan Ezell (Chadron State) (6-2)
Quarterfinal - Trey Schlender (Nebraska-Kearney) won by fall over Dean (1:33)
Cons Round 2 - Dean received a bye
Cons Round 3 - Steven Gregory (Grandview) won by fall over Dean (2:17)
285 - Brix Brickey
Round 1 - Brix Brickey received a bye
Quarterfinal - James Jones (Midland) won by decision over Brickey (8-4)
Cons Round 2 - Cooper Cogdill (Chadron State) won by major decision over Brickey (12-0)